Mechanical musical instrument.



No. 397,331. I PATENTED SEPT. 1, 1908.

' A. E. WHITEHEAD.

MECHANICAL MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

APPLICATION FILED 0(JT.17, 1904.

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No. 897,331. PATENTBD SEPT. 1, 1908. A. E. W'HITEHEAD.

MECHANIC AL MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

APPLICATION FILED 00T.1'1, 1904.

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A. E. WHITEHEAD.

MECHANICAL MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

APPLIUATION FILED 001 .17, 1904.

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wives-sew 6'6 rec .No 897,331 'PATENTED SEPT. 1, 1908.

A. E. WHITE-HEAD.

MECHANICAL MUSIGALINSTRUMENT.

APPLICATION FILED 001217. 1904.

SSHEETS-SHEET 4.

.No. 897,331. 'PATENT'ED SEPT. 1, 1908.

A. E. WHITEHEAD.

MEGHANIOAL MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

APPLIOATION FILED 0G'1.l7, 1904.

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"UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

AURA E. WHITEHEAD, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO FARRAND OF'DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN.

ORGAN COMPANY,

MECHANICAL MUSICAL INSTRIJ'MEN T.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 1, 1908.

Application filed October 17, 1904. Serial N 0. 228,791.

To all whom it may concern: 1

Be it known that I, AURA E. WHITEHEAD, residing at Detroit, in the county of Wayne and State of Michigan, a citizen of the United States, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mechanical Musical Instruments, of which fication, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings. I

The inventionrelates to mechanical musical instruments, with more particular reference to self-playing pianos.

The invention consists in the peculiar construction of a separable sectional ease, in which the parts of the instrument are mounted; further, in the peculiar construc-.

tion of .the automatic playing mechanism and in the arrangement thereof in relation to the manually operated action and, furthcr, in the peculiar construction, arrangement and combination of parts, as hereinafter'set forth. i

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical crosssection through the instrument. Fig. 2 is a perspective View of the two separate sections of the case, together with the parts respectively mounted thereon. Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the instrument with the front members of the case removed. Fig. 4 is a horizontal section,substantially on line 'yy of F 2, through one of the side walls of the case, showing the mannerof securing the separable sections thereof. Fig. 5 is an elevation of the inner face of said side wall, illustrating the securing devices. Fig. 6 is a cross section on line z.z of Fig. 1. Fig. 7 is a sectional perspective View of the primary valve chest and pneumatic connec tlons therefor.

Fig. 8 is a sectional view of a portion of Fig. 7. Fig. 9 is a rear elevation thereof. Fig. 10 is a horizontal section on line x-m of Fig. 3, illustrating the-valves and the operating connections for the regulators. Fi 11 1s a cross section through one of the regulators. Fig. 1.2 is adiagrammatic View, illustrating the tempo regulating mechanism and the controlling devices for .the winding mechanism.

One of the primary objects of the invcn' tion is to obtain a construction of piano which may be either manually or automatically operated and which is contained within a case which isbut slightly larger than that of the ordinary piano. To attain this end,

the following is a speciwhich isseparable in the longitudinal planeinto two sections. 'One of these sections contains the her or frame, sounding board and strings of t 1e piano, while the other section has mounted therein all of the parts of the action, both manual and automatic.

As shown. A is the rear section of the Ease which comprises the sides a, the to 7) and bottom 0, within which is mounted a liarp B. This section also contains thesupporting base for the entire instrument, which latter consists of base cross bars (1, projecting forward from the sides a and provided at their forward ends-with the supporting casters 2. These bars extend substantially the full width of both sections of the case and form the support upon which the forward section of the case rests.

C is a front section of-the case. This is formed of the sides f, whiclrat their lower ends rest upon a box rail 9 adapted to tele';

scopically engage with the cross bars (1.

D is the key bed which extends between the sides f and is rigidly attached thereto at its opposite ends.

E is a bottom board which extends between the boX rails g. r

'F are cheek plates arranged above the key bed D and projecting adjacent to the inner faces of the sides a of the case section A.

' G is a horizontal board or shelf connecting the cheek plates F, forming the usual support for the music rack.

The sections A and C of the case are united to each other by clamping screws H, which engage with slots in the inwardly projecting portions of the cheek plates F and secure the latter to the sides aof the case section A. The sections are preferably further secured by screws h which attach an inwardly proj ecting portion of the sides f, under-lapping the sides a. is concealed by a molding i, secured to the sides f which abuts against the forward edge The joint between the sections i arrange a bar l in rear of the rods j,

of the sides a. Thus, the section C willbe separated by sliding on the rails g and has its side portions normally securely fastened to the sides of the section A, so as to form a single case.

The manual actionrfor the piano is all supported on the key bed and is removable with the. section C of the case. This action may be of any suitable construction, comprising the usual uprights which engage with the key levers 7c and operate the hammers l and other parts associated therewith. The frame m, which supports this action is preferably attached to the harp frame when the two sections of the case are together, by means of the clamping screws 12.

The automatic playing action comprises the pumping and store bellows I and J which are arranged in the section C of the case and above the base board E. Above these parts is a valve chest K for the key actuated pneumatics lJ, the latter being arranged in a plurality of tiers beneath the key bed and actuating the key levers through an intermediate connection, This connection, which forms no part of my invention, is shown as comprising the levers M, fulcrumcd on the under side of the key bed and the flexible connection N passing through the slot in the key bed and connected to the forward ends of the keys. operated, the corresponding levers M will be rocked and will pull upon the connection N to draw down upon the connecting keys. As has been stated, it is an object of my in- 'vention to limit the size of the case as much as possible over the size of the ordinary piano case. To attain this result, the front board of the case is moved slightly outward from the position it would occupy with the ordinary piano, thereby providing space beneath the key bed for the parts I, J and K, which has been described. There is not, however,

sul'licient space to permit of placing in the valve box K the entire pneumatic. action. The primary pneumatics are therefore arranged above the key bed and the keys thereon, and are connected by tubes with the chest K.

The primary pneumatics and valves controlled thereby are preferably arranged in the chest 0, which extends longitudinally of the instrument above the keys and is supported at its opposite ends upon the case section Q. As the keys completely bar passage for the pneumatic connections directly from the chest t) to the chest K and as it is not desirable to cut away these keys sullicicnt to provide for such connections, 1 preferably first pass the tubes rearward between the upright rods of the piano action and then downward in rear of the key bed to the chest K. .The space for the passage of these tubes is very limited and to avoid interference, I

Thus, whenever the p ncumatics are said bar l being preferably sup iorted on top of the bar P, which is a part of the ordinary piano action and forms the fulcrum for the links 7', connected to the rods j. This bar P is ported, having the horizontal passages 0 which intersect with the vertical assages p, the former connecting with nipp e tubes g, which project between the rods 3' and the lat ter connecting with nipples 1' to which the downwardly extending flexible tubes 5 are attached, said tubes leading from the chest K. The nipples g are connected by the curved tubes g with the ports in the, chest 0.

This construction permits of using substantially straight tubes for s, which extend downward in rear of the key bed and in front of the strings without interference with any parts of the mechanism. It is usual to support the key bed intermediate the sides of the case by resting upon it the lugs it formed integral with the metallic frame of the harp. These lugs u cross the space between the strings and the key bed and to avoid interference therewith by the tubes 3, I preferably deflect these tubes on opposite sides of the lug and secure them by loops 3 to the rear edge of the key bed;

The tracker box G or winding mechanism for the music sheet is upon the. shelf G and t \c tracker G 1s connected to the )neumatics in the box O by conduits'v. Tris shelf is detachable from the case, and the tracker box which is rigidly mounted thereon may be moved with the shelf, so as to provide access to the piano action for the purpose of tuning.

The instrument is provided with suitable referably supported expression devices, by means of which the automatic action may be softened when de sired. These devices comprise essentially collapsible regulating chambers which diminish the effective pressure of the air passing therethrough to the pneumatic action. To conveniently lbcate these ex ression regulators, I have arranged them in t re s )ace within the key bed between the longitu inal bars and cross bars thereof, as indicated at Q.

The regulators R are preferably of the well known type, in which a collapsible bellows controls a valve for restricting the port, through which the regulated wind must pass. As shown in Figs. 10 and l 1, the regulators lt are mounted on the chests lt, which are pivoted to the valve chest K. This chest R contains the chamber R which is in communication with a channel ll", leading to the store bellows. The chest also contains two chambers R and R, which are respectively connected to the treble and base portions of the pneumatic action. communicates with each of the regulators K, through ports R, while the chambers R and R communicate with said regulators through )orts R said ports being variably restricted by valves R operated by the collapsing of The chamber it" 1 push buttons it,

the valve U in the valve box the bellows. 'lhus, the air pressure in the chambers R and R is governed by their respective regulators and is less than the pressure in the chamber R In addition to the passage by wayof the regulators, the chambers R and K may be placed in communication with the chamber it through direct ports controlled by the valves It" and It. These valves are'operated by pneumatics R, which are connected through conduits It with valves R operated by said push buttons being )referably located at the front of the key bed.

For mntrolling the winding and re-winding of the music sheet, a tempo lever S and a reaviuding lever 'l. are provided and are pref erably arranged adjacent to the buttons It at the front of the key bed. The tempo lever is connected by a link S to a rock shaft 5 which operates the comiectionsS and 8,

one leading. to the valve box U'containing the tempo valve S and the other being connected through. the medium of a lever S to a link S with a tempo index S". This index is preferably arranged to travel adjacent to the scale S", located at the base of the tracker box, as shown in Fig. 3.

The lever 'l is connected through suitable meclutnism, such as the link 'l", rock arm T link 'l and lever 'l with a rod T controlling the shil'tablc gear for reversil'lg the action of the winding mechanism and this winding mechanism being of any suitable construction (not shown). .lnv addition to the me-- chanical connection to the lever T, said lever controls a pneumatic connection for operating U, this valve controlling a port U through which high pressure air is permitted topass to the motor when said valve is open. The pneumatic U for operating the valve. U is located within the chest U and is connected by a conduit U with a port U in the key bed. This ort is so located that the lever T in its position for causing the forward movement of the winding mechanism, will close the port.' When, however,'this lever is adjusted to the position shown in Fig, 12, so as to cause the re-winding of the music sheet the port U will be uncovered, which will pernnt air to enter the pneumatic U" and open the valve U, thereby admitting high ressure air to the motor. Themotor may )0 of any suitable construction, as indicated diagraminatically at V (Fig. 3), the connections to the valve box U not being shown.

. The instrumentbeing constructed as has been described, in use it may bcoperated either manually or automatically. In the former case, the pneumatic attachments re main inoperative, but when thc'pneumatio action is used, the keys are also actuated. The arrangement of the tempo mdlcator adacent to the tracker box enables'the operator to keep in view both the markings upon the. musi and the position of the tempo index. Expression may be given to the music through the operation of the buttons R and when the. music is to be re-wound, the operation of the lever T for shifting the gears, causes the simultaneous operation of the valve U for admitting high pressure wind to the motor.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. In a piano, a case therefor divided in a vertical longitudinal plane into two separable sections a key-bed carried by the forward section and cheek plates 011 said forward section adjacent to said keybe'd and secured to the sides of the opposite section.

2. In a piano, a case therefor divided in a vertical longitudinal plane into twosepara ble sections, projecting cheek plates on the forward section underlapping the sides of the opposite section, and means for clamping said check plates to the sides of the opposite section.

3. In a piano, a case therefor divided in a vertical longitudinal plane into two separa ble sections, base rails projecting forward from the rear section upon which the forward section is slidably supported and cheek plates projecting rearwardly from said forward. section and means for clamping said. check plates to the sides of the rear section.

In a piano, a case therefor divided in a vertical longitudinal plane into, two separable'scctions, the harp mounted in the rear section, a key bed forming the integral part of the forward section, a check plate on said forward section projecting rearward there from adjacent to said key bed, and a clamping bolt for securing said check plate to the sides of the rear scction to hold said. key bed 105 in rigid relationgthereto.

5. In a piano, a casetherefor divided in a vertical longitudinal plane into two separable sections, a keybed carried by the forward section a check plate having an open 110 ended slot therein projecting from one section and adjacent to said keybed, lapping the side of the other section and. a clamping bolt engaging the open-ended slot in said cheek plate, adapted to secure the same to said 115 side.

6. In a piano, '9. case therefor divided in a vertical longitudinal plane into two separable sections, the rear section comprising the base, sides and mounted therein and the forward section comprising the key bed supporting the sides beneath and. cheek plates above the same, the latter projecting rearward and lapping the sides of the rear section slotted bearings 5 in said check plates and clamping bolts en.- gaging said slotted bearings and securing the same to the sides of the rear section.

7. In an automatic and manually operable piano, a case section including the sup- 130 top and having the harp porting base, a harp mounted in said section, a section having a base superposed on the base of the first mentioned section, said sections being separable from each other, and an automatic action and a manually operable action mounted in the last mentioned section.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

AURA E. WHITEHEAD.

Witnesses:

H. C. SMITH, .JAS. P. BARRY. 

